Stoker conveyer



Aug. 23, 1938.

INVENTOR. F3n/L KETCHPEL ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. z3, 193s 2,127,922

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STGKER CONVEYER Paul A. Ketchpel, Bergenfield, N. J., assignor to The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, la corporation of Delaware Application January 30, 1937, Serial No. 123,120 9 Claims. (Cl. 198-15) This invention relates to the conveyers for or riser section I rigidly mounted on the locolocomotive stokers or like devices and more parmotive backwall II by means of a support bracket ticularly appertains to the class of stoker con- I6 and the fianges I'I extending outwardly from veyers employing several flexibly connected coneach side of the discharge mouth I8. From the 5 duits each housing a fuel conveying screw. discharge mouth I8, the riser section I5 extends 5 It is an object of this invention to provide new downwardly to a point beneath the cab deck I4 and improved means for facilitating the conterminating thereat in a spherical seat I9 which nection and inspection of the conveyer screws in receives the spherical element 20 formed with stokers of the type to which reference has been the forward conduit member 2I of the telemade herein. scopic conduit'22. A rearward conduit member 10 A further object of this invention resides in 23 is slidably fitted within the conduit member the provision of a new and improved flexible 2| to form therewith the telescopic conduit 22. joint structure for a pair of connected conduits A detachable cover or clamp 24, shaped to conadaptedy to house conveyer screws which are form with the radius of the seat I9, is clamped operatively connected by a universal joint withover the upper half of the spherical element 20 l5 in the ilexible joint structure for the connected to form a universal connection 25 between the conduits, said flexible joint structure comprising riser section I 5.and the telescopic conduit 22.

a conduit provided with a spherical portion hav- Bolts 26 secure the cover 24 at its sides to a flange i ing a section of such spherical portion remov- 34 extending from each side of the seat I9.

able in order to expose the universal joint between The longitudinal movement necessary in the 20 the conveyer screws. conveyer organization is provided by the tele- A still further object of this invention contemscopic relation of the conduit members 2l and plates that the section of said spherical portion 23. The latter slidably extends into the former be arranged for removal through an opening in to a resting position therein over the bottom the firing deck of a locomotive and tender whereportion ofthe spherical element 2l) and over and 2f by the engine crew may have free access to the above the seat I5, whereby the overhanging interior of the connected stoker conduits from a weight of the conduit member 23 and the conveyer position on such firing deck. screwr 35 therein is supported by the seat I9 of Other objects, such as the specific construction the riser section I5. This construction prevents 30 of parts and their novel relation one with anany sagging or binding of the conduit members 30 other, will become apparent 'as the description 2| and 23.

of this invention is read in connection with the Within the riser section I5 and the telescopic accompanying drawing, in which, conduit 22 is suitable means for conveying fuel Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through the to the distributor 35 which is disposed at the 5 backwall of a locomotive boiler showing in elelower portion of the firing opening I2 in a posivation the stoker in which the present lnvention to receive fuel from the stoker discharge tion is embodied; mouth I8. The distributor is of the well known Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary central versteam jet type and serves to project the fuel over tical section through adjacent portions of the the firebox gratos 31. The conveying means con- 40 stoker conduits illustrating the invention in ssts of a screw 38 mounted in the riser section I5 similar section; and the screw 35 in the telescopic conduit 22.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the stoker structure These screws are universally connected at their illustrated in Fig. 2 with portions broken away; adjoining ends by a universal joint 39 disposed and within the universal connection 25. In the trade.

Fig.41s a sectional view taken on the une 4 4 the joint 39 is known as a double universal Joint 4b' of Fig. 2. consisting of a connecting link 40 universally at- Referring to this drawing, I0 represents the tached by pins such as 4I, 42 to the jaws 43, 44 locomotive having a boiler backwall II apertured of the screws 35, 38, respectively. at I2 for the introduction of fuel by the stoker In conveying fuel to the distributor 35, it is S, and by hand when desired, into the rebox desirable to do so with a minimum degradation 50 I3. 'Ihe stoker S extends from the tender (not of the lump fuel Consistent With the ability .of shown) forwardly and upwardly through the lothe distributor to handle such lumps of fuel. comotive cab deck I4 to the lower portion of the This result has been attained in the stoker ilfiring opening I2. lustrated herein by providing sufcient clearance The stokerSis of the type employinga forward within the universal connection 25 around the 56 universal joint 39 of the screws 25, 38 and also by maintaining the overall dimensions of the universal joint 39 as small as possible under the expected conditions of service.

However, the universal Joint 39 is subject to a considerable strain due to its severe operating angle, necessitating its repair and renewal after periods of service. Furthermore, extraneous material in the fuel will oftentimes become wedged between the articulating surfaces of the universal joint 39 causing it to bind and fracture as a result thereof. In carrying out the objects of this invention, means are provided which render convenient the free access into the interior of the universal connection 25 for the purpose of repairing or renewing the joint 39, or for the purpose of freeing the obstructions which may be lodged between the working parts of the joint. As will presently appear, access to the interior of the universal connection 25 is gained by stoker mechanics or engine crews from a position on the cab deck I4, and this will be recognized to be of considerable importance.

The spherical element 20, which is formed with the conduit member 2|, is in two sections, the lower section 20a being formed integrally with said conduit member 2| while the upper section 20h is detachably secured thereto in a manner which is now to be described. From its spherical portion 20c, the upper section 20h extends rearward of the universal joint 39 and is provided with a flange 45 at each side thereof, each being arranged to seat upon a corresponding flange 9 at each upper side of the conduit member 2|. Bolts 46 detachably secure said upper section 20h to the conduit member 2|.

From its upper end, each flange 45 extends forwardly and downwardly approximately to the horizontal plane of the axis of the conduit member 2|. Then, the lower edge 41 at each side of the upper section 20h extends forwardly to be received in a seat 48 which opens upwardly at each upper side of the lower spherical section 20a. In this manner, the upper section 20h is centered with respect to the lower section 20a, resulting in the maintenance of a true spherical formation for the element 20 and at the same time preventing lateral movement of the upper section 20h with respect to the lower section 20a during stoker operation.

Access to the interior of the universal connection 25 may be had by removing the bolts 26 which secure the cover 24 to the flanges 34 of the riser |5 whereupon the bolts 45 may be loosed in order to permit detachment o'f the upper section 20h from the conduit member 2|. It will be apparent that the above operations may be performed from a position on the cab deck |4 through an opening 49 which extends slightly to the rear of the upper section 20h to permit withdrawal thereof, as well as the cover 24, through such opening. With the cover 24 and upper section 20h removed, the universal joint 39 becomes readily accessible to a mechanic in the locomotive repair shops. Since the lower section 20a remains in the seat I9, the herein described construction permits the Stoker operator to free any obstruction around the universal joint 39 which may occur in stoker operation during road service of the locomotive.

I claim:

l. The combination including a pair of conduits, a spherical seat formed in an end of one of said conduits, a spherical element at the adjacent end of the other of said conduits received in the spherical seat of the flrst named conduit to form a flexible connection between said conduits, a conveyer screw in the flrst named conduit, a conveyer screw in the second named conduit, and a universal joint connecting said conveyer screws in approximate coincidence with the flexible connection between said conduits, said spherical element including an upper section detachably connected to said second named conduit.

2. The combination including a pair of conduits, a spherical seat formed in an end of one of said conduits, a spherical element at the adjacent end of the other of said conduits received in the spherical seat of the first named conduit to form a flexible connection between said conduits, a conveyer screw in the first named conduit, a conveyer screw in the second named conduit, a universal joint connecting said conveyer screws in approximate coincidence with the flexible connection between said conduits, said spherical element including an upper section detachable from the second named conduit, means for detachably securing said section to the second named conduit and means for centering said spherical section in position with respect to said second named conduit.

3. The combination including a pair of conduits, a spherical seat formed in an end of one of said conduits, a spherical element at the adjacent end of the other of said conduits received in the spherical seat of the flrst named conduit to form a flexible connection between said conduits, a conveyer screw in the first named conduit, a conveyer screw in the second named conduit, and a universal joint connecting said conveyer screws in approximate coincidence with the flexible connection between said conduits, said spherical element including an upper section detachably connected to the second named conduit above the lower section of said spherical element, said upper section extending downwardly to the approximately horizontal plane passing through the axis of said second named conduit.

4. 'I'he combination including a pair of conduits, a spherical seat formed in an end of one of said conduits, a spherical element at the adjacent end of the other of said conduits received in the spherical seat of the first named conduit to form a flexible connection between said conduits, a conveyer screw in the first named conduit, a conveyer screw in the second named conduit, a universal joint connecting said conveyer screws in approximate coincidence with the flexible connection between said conduits, said spherical element including an upper section detachable from the second named conduit and extending downwardly to the approximately horizontal plane passing through the axis of said second named conduit, means for detachably securing said upper section to the second named conduit and means for centering said upper spherical section in position with respect to said second named conduit.

5. The combination including a pair of conduits, a spherical seat formed in an end of one of said conduits, a spherical element at the adjacent end of the other of said conduits received in the spherical seat of the flrst named conduit to form a flexible connection between said conduits, a conveyer screw in the first named conduit, a conveyer screw in the second named conduit, a universal joint connecting said conveyer screws in approximate coincidence with the flexible connection between said conduits, said spherical element including an uppersection detachable from the second named conduit, and means rearward of said flexible connection between said conduits for detachably securing said section to the second named conduit.

6. The combination including a pair of conduits, a spherical seat formed in an end of one of said conduits. a spherical element at the adjacent end of the other of said conduits received in the spherical seat of the rst named conduit to form a iiexible connection between said conduits, a conveyer screw in the iirst named conduit, a conveyer screw in the second named conduit, a universal joint connecting said conveyer screws in approximate coincidence with the flexible connection between said conduits, said spherical element including a section detachable from the second named conduit, and means rearward of said ilexible connection between said conduits for detachably securing said section to the second named conduit, said means comprising a flange at each side of said detachable section. a ilange at each side oi' the second named conduit arranged to receive a corresponding ilange of said detachable section, and .screw means engaging said flanges. '7. In combination, a oor,'a conveying system having a portion thereof beneath said floor, said conveying system including a pair of conduits, a spherical seat formed in an end of one of said conduits, a spherical element at the adjacent-end of the other oi' said conduits received in the spherical seat of the rst named conduit to form a flexible connection between said conduits, such ilexible connection beingv arranged with the greater part th'ereo! beneath the plane oi' said floor, a conveyer screw in the rst named conduit,

a conveyer screw in the second named conduit, and a universal joint connecting said conduits in approximate coincidence with the universal connection between said conduits, said floor being provided with an aperture over the flexible connection between said conduits, said spherical element including a section detachably connected to said second named conduit and arranged for removal from its operative position through the aperture in said oor.

8. As an article of manufacture, a stoker conduit including a tubular portion and a section at one end of said tubular portion integrally formed therewith having substantially the same inner radius of curvature as said tubular portion and being in the form of an arc in transverse cross section, the end of said section remote from said tubular portion having a convex rim formed on and extending about its outer surface, and an outwardly extending attachment flange on that portion only of the marginal edge of said curvate section rearward of said convex rim.

9. A stoker conduit including a tubular portion and a section at one end thereof and integrally formed therewith having substantially the same inner radius of curvature as said tubular portion and being in the form of an arc in transverse cross section, and a detachable arcuate section arranged to form with said rst named section a tubular continuation of said tubular portion, the y ends of said sections remote from said tubular portion each having a convex rim formed on and.

extending about its outer surface, and outwardly extending attachment anges on that portion only oi' the adjacent edges of said sections rearward of said convex rims.

PAUL A. KETCHPEL. 

